How Verdict is Used in Personal Injury Law?

While most personal injury cases do not go to trial, those that do will often end in verdicts. There are some personal injury cases that go to trial but are settled before a verdict can be reached. While most settlements don’t include punitive damages, juries can award compensatory and punitive damages with their verdicts.

Famous Cases Verdict Was Used

Amagasu V Mitsubishi Motors

In 2017, Francis Amagasu and his wife were driving in a 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT. He lost control of his vehicle, attempting to avoid another vehicle. The seatbelt in the Mitsubishi was defective, and Amagasu’s head hit the roof of the vehicle after allowing four inches of slack as the collision happened. The Plaintiff’s legal team argued that Mitsubishi never performed rollover testing. After hearing all the evidence, the jury passed a verdict that stated Mitsubishi Motors was liable for the injuries. The jury awarded Amagasu and his wife a verdict of $176,551,384 in compensatory damages and $800 million in punitive damages.

When is Verdict Used in the Legal Process?

A verdict is used at the end of the legal process. In personal injury law, verdicts are only used in jury trials after an out-of-court settlement cannot be reached between the plaintiff and the defendant.

Is Verdict used in Kentucky Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Kentucky does use verdicts when cases cannot be settled out of court. Jury awards can vary in personal injury cases but can include compensatory and punitive damages.

Is Verdict used in Tennessee Personal Injury Law?

Yes. Verdicts are used in Tennessee personal injury cases that go to trial.

How Does Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers Use “Verdict”?

The team of experienced personal injury lawyers at Hughes & Coleman work to get you the compensation you deserve. If negotiations for an out-of-court settlement don’t fit your expectations and our understanding of your case, we will take it to trial. During the trial, our goal is to show the jury the evidence that supports your case and tells a story of the how the negligent act led to your injury and just how much you suffered due to your injury with the end result being an attempt at getting a verdict that finds the defendant liable and an award that helps you recover your losses completely.

Frequently Asked Questions About Verdict

A jury is a group of the defendant’s peers that comes together to hear the facts of a case and create a verdict based on those facts. The verdict is the decision that is made by the jury.

In personal injury cases, judges can overturn verdicts (or change verdicts); however, it is extremely rare for a judge to do so. Additionally, a judge can change amount a jury awards a plaintiff. In personal injury cases where there are caps for damages and juries award higher numbers than those caps, judges can adjust ensure that the law for those caps is upheld.

No. Personal injury cases that settle out of court do not have verdicts. This includes cases that go to trial but are settled before the end of trial.